Fabric lathing for concrete surfaces



2 Sheets-Sheet l T. O MEARA FABRIC LATHING FOR CONCRETE SURFACES Filed March 7, 1953 Fl G July 24, 1934.

July 24, 1934. T. OMEARA FABRIC LATHING FOR CONCRETE SURFACES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1955 wm QE JMZM/ Patented `Iuly 24, 1934 UNITED STATES FABRIC LATHING FOR CONCRETE SURFA CES Thomas OMeara, Cincinnati, Ohio Application March 7, 1933, Serial No. 659,941

1 Claim.

This invention has for an object to produce a fabric lathed wall, iioor, ceiling, arches and pilasters. The occasion for such a construction lies in the necessity of providing a wall surface having a tooth, a key, or a roughened surface for the purpose of creating an adhesion thereto of finishing plaster, stucco, tile and other finishes.

In the molding of monolith structures the resultant vsurface finish given the hardened concrete is quite smooth. This is because finished lumber or metal sheets are used in the form construction. Although such finished form material is necessary in order that the forms may be removed easily and without damage thereto, the finish on the molded concrete is frequently too smooth toI enable it to hold such finishing materials as plaster, stucco, tile and the like.

To attain the object set forth and in order to overcome the weaknesses just outlined I have devised the structure now to be described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse elevational sectional view of a monolithic structure built as is usual, showing the formwork still in place and other features which incorporate my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view upon an enlarged scale of a tool which I use in carrying forth my invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the apparatus or mold which I employ in carrying forth my invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional elevational enlargement of a part of the mold form which is usually employed in monolith construction, but showing the manner in which I place the fabric lathing in place.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a further step in carrying forth my invention.

My invention consists briefly in embedding fabric in the surfaced concrete at the time it is molded so that one face of the fabric has its fibers thoroughly molded into the concrete while it is still wet. In this manner the outer fibrous surface of the fabric is left unaffected and quite `available to receive a finishing coat of plaster, or cement for tile, mosaic, terrazzo, or the like.

In employing my invention I utilize the formwork as it is being erected. For example as shown, the wall forms 6, in resting upon the base, floor or foundation 7, are rested on the end of the burlap or fabric strip 8, the base board 9 and a tacking strip 10 being employed for holding both the form 6 and strip 8 in place. The ceiling form 11 is then provided with a strip l2 which enables the workman to use the fabric stretcher 13, such as shown in Fig. 2, in the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 5, thereby serving to function for drawing the fabric tightly in place against the wall form surfaces. After thus stretching the fabric, the strips 12 may be loosened and removed, after which they may be tacked on top of the fabric as shown in Fig. 1, in order to hold the fabric in place. The tacking strip 12 is made preferably as shown in Fig. 3, in which a lower portion 14 carries the nails 15 and an upper portion 16 holds the nails against displacement.

Preferably, in assembling the parts of the form and in pouring the concrete, the fabric is stretched as has been described and then the Walls 17 and floor slab 18 are poured. After the floor slab has been completed, there is provided a covering of fabric 19 which is laid upon the wet concrete. Then follows the erection of the next story formwork, the stretching and covering of this with fabric, and the subsequent pouring of the walls and oor slabs.

After having become set suiiiciently, the forms are removed from the concrete, the fabric being left in adherence with the concrete, the nailing strips 12 being left in the ceiling slab back of the fabric. Of course there are projecting ends of nails left protruding through the fabric, but these may be bent over flush with the concrete.

When the forms have been removed, the fabric will be found to have become imbedded in the concrete on one side, thereby leaving the exposed side of the fabric as a fibrous tooth to which wet cement or plaster may be applied and. which forms the means by which tile, mosaic, terrazzo, and other finishes may be attached to the wall, floor, ceiling, ornamental and other surfaces. Also, in this manner a suitable surface is provided so that moldings, ornaments and the like may be applied to the walls and ceilings or pilasters. Furthermore, the same idea may be employed as a lathing base for stucco on the outer sides of a house, or for protective walls erected about the premises.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

The method of building concrete structures consisting in erecting forms to receive the concrete, in applying a sheet of fabric to the face of the form by fastening one end thereof and in stretching the fabric; in then pouring the concrete, allowing the latter to set and removing the form, thereby exposing the stretched face of the fabric, the fibres of which are spaced apart to form a surface for anchorage of a plastic finish.

THOMAS OMEARA. 

